Animal Rescue Stories

The cat who came in from the cold

I encounted a large, scrawny tuxedo cat outside my building one really cold night in Nov 2011. He wanted to come inside but was extremely cautious- he looked like he was a dumped house cat.i fed him almost every night for approximately 4 months all the while putting up posters to find out if he belonged to anyone. I finally picked him up one rainy evening without any resistance and brought him immediately to my vet. I brought him home after someone who "adopted" him brought him back and the vet called me to come and pick up "my" cat. I named him Thor after the comic book warrior-my first boy cat- he's become my constant shadow, resident love bug and all around wonderfully affectionate cat. Seriously, he doesn't leave me alone - he can be a bit of a bully towards my 2 girls at times but they all tolerate each other. I knew he was mine when he entered my house and breathed a sigh of relief?! To top it all off - the black smudge on the bottom of his chin is in the shape of a heart! Yes, I picked up a sweetheart.

DPFOREST HILLS, NY

The Chug Who Stole My Heart Without My Permission.

I already had Chula, another rescue Chug, and didn't want a second when Roo came into my life. (I had been dog sitting him for a week for my cousin, his foster mom.) The elbows on Roo's front legs are fused into a bent position, which means he can't straighten them out. (Vets think he might have broken them coming through the birth canal.) He can walk and run, more like a kangaroo than a dog, but gets tired after awhile, which is why I modified a baby stroller for him to jump in and out of. Roo and his Roadster, with me as his Roober Driver, have walked so many miles since summer of 2012 that we are now on our third stroller. In addition, Roo, Chula and I spent a year traveling around the United States, and last summer drove all the way across Canada and back to the West coast, after spending one month in Newfoundland. Roo is an inspiration to disabled people who meet him and, along with Chula, also volunteers at Assisted Living, where they both make many people very happy.

Jane MargulisWALDPORT, OR

Chatty to Charley Beans

My roommate and I were living in an apartment complex that allowed pets. Unfortunately, many people moved away and left their cats behind to fend for themselves. I began feeding the strays.
My little boy kitten so wanted to make friends with the strays but most were not friendly towards him. One day I heard this black and white cat just meowing and crying. That is how I came to refer to it as Chatty. I didn't know if it was male or female.
I noticed the other strays we're not very nice to Chatty. Chatty had a lot of scratches and looked like he was the loser in a number of cat fights.
Chatty was receptive to my kitten's attention. Chatty even allowed me to pet it. Eventually, I was able to see that Chatty was a male.
One day there was a party across the court yard and I heard the people commenting on the noisy cat, Chatty. I grew concerned that somebody would do something mean to him because of his crying. I left my apartment door open and Chatty (who I had begun calling Charley since I knew he was a him) would walk in, but as soon as I moved he would run away. Finally, I got the door closed. He was extremely upset and scared. My kitten showed him a good hiding place--under my bed. After hiding there and being fed under the bed for a couple of weeks, I moved the food on to the dresser. He would sneak out to eat but remained under the bed. Then, one day I saw him getting down from the bed as I entered my room. It was long after that he began sleeping with me.
I already had two cats and a dog and was not looking to take in another cat. I contacted all of the local rescues, but they were all full. I placed an ad on Craigslist (I know, I know that was very dangerous). A young want answered my ad. I went to visit and check out the home. She was very animal friendly, so I brought Charley to her. I told her if there was any problems to contact me and I would take him back.
After a couple of months I texted her to see how he was doing. She said he hadn't moved from under her bed except to eat late at night. She asked me to take him back as he seemed just too scared.
I went back and got him, fully intending to take him to the local Humane Society. He HID and was nowhere to be found. By the time he was found, caught and in the carrier it was after 4:00 pm on a Saturday. I thought it was too late to get him to the Humane Society and assumed it would be closed on Sunday. I promised my roommate, I would take him on Monday.
I worked odd hours and would nap during the day. When I woke up, Charley was laying in my arm looking as calm as I had ever seen him. My roommate came in to wake me up and saw this. She just laughed and said "you know that cat's not going anywhere." I was crying, and said "so, it's okay if I keep him". She just laughed at me. She KNEW it would break my heart to give him up again.
Over time I began calling him Charley Beans because he had the stinkiest farts and poops. With regular, good food, that has greatly improved, but the name stuck.
I really tried to find a home for Charley Beans, bit he decided he liked mine.
I've had him now for 6 years. He's come a long way from that scared cat. He is just the biggest lover boy, who enjoys my hugs and kisses on the head. It took months just to get him to leave my bedroom. It's still his favorite room but he roams throughout the house and even comes out to love on my roommate occasionally.
The "kitten" now, bullies Charley. My girl cat and Charley are friendly. Sometimes Charley is a little too friendly. It's not always smooth sailing but I've never regretted my first rescue and foster fail.

JennyDUPONT, WA

My true Angel

In 2002, I choose to move in with my parents due to their health problems becoming worse. After a few months I decided I wanted to find a companion, so I went to the Monterey SPCA. Every dog was jumping and barking at their kennel as if to say adopt me, adopt me. However, there was one who was cowering and peaking through the dog door to the outside.
He was truly beautiful. He was a German Shepherd and a Belgian Tervuren mix. He was approximately 4 years old and was brought in as a stray and later determined to have been abused and neglected. I got into his kennel and talked with him and tried to bribe him with some treats. Within a few minutes he carefully came to me, sniffed me and then layed down so I could rub his belly.
When I took him out to the front, everyone was surprised. They told me that in the four months that he had been there, he would not allow a man near him, and yet he was walking along side of me. So, on May20th, 2002, he came home with me. I choose the name Altan.
The first week was rough. He took over my closet, but that was for a protection and a safe feeling. In the ten years he was with me, he went just about every where with me. And when one of my parents fell, or had a stroke or some other medical problem, he would alert me.
In June 2012, I took him for his yearly checkup. Everything was fine, but in about ten days, a large growth in his jaw formed. When I took him to the vet, they told me he had a very aggressive cancer, and they could remove it, but he would lose 1/3 of his jaw. So I said no. They give me medication to make things easier for him.
In the short time left, we did his bucket list. Everything he enjoyed we did. Then on July 4th, 2012, he gave me that look that he was ready. So the next morning, I fed him eggs with cheese, bacon, sausage, steak and hamburger. At the vets, we had some special time privately together, and then eye to eye, with me holding him, he went to sleep for the last time, crossing the Rainbow Bridge.
He was everything to me, and what Iwill miss most about Altan, is everything!

Anthony RodriguezMONTEREY, CA

The most amazing kitty came to me

Angel Eyes was brought into the shelter in Colorado where a kindly neighbor had trapped her when her people had left her outside in the February snow and moved away. They took her in and she had her babies adopted out but nobody wanted her. That May, i went to look at the cats on a whim (had one already). On my third visit to her, i took her home. She was such a handful that it was tempting to return her (which i have never done btw) My studio apartment was filled with her 24/7 crying for many days. Had to put her out in the car so i could sleep. She hung over her food defensively and i could feel how hungry she had been. But she and my older cat tolerated each other and shared peacefully. One day, like magic, everything got better. i made up a little song for her and promised her that she would never be cold or hungry again. Seventeen years later, that is true. She lives in a nice house with another rescued kitty and stays indoors in the sunshine, safe from the coyotes.
She has been the most amazing cat. When my other dearly loved 20 year old girl passed away a year later, Angel Eyes came out and sat next to her and mourned. She would hardly eat for days. Then she started doing some of the loving gestures the other cat did and she became a great comfort to me in my relentless grief. When i had major major surgery in 2010 she became even more loving, shadowing me everywhere and healing me with her purr. Even non cat people say she is beautiful. She is the sweetest, most loving cat ever.
How could anybody abandon her so cruelly? Their loss was my gain. Every day now with her is a blessing. She could leave me any time now-she has good days and some not -so -good days. Her hearing is gone, but everything else basically works. i am devastated by the thought of being without her, but i know that is the price we all pay. The day we bring our furbaby home is the day we know we are going to cry someday. Love is worth it!

marie moonbeamMOAB, UT

For the Love of Fatso

Fatso, the cockatiel, somehow squeezed through the patio window of my high rise condo in downtown Honolulu in an attempt to eat some seed I had left out for a wild cardinal. We were devastated! A day later and many miles away Fatso landed on a gentleman's shoulder who was eating lunch in a park. Soon the two were eating together. Then, the man took Fatso home. Shortly thereafter, the man responded to an ad I had posted in the newspaper - one of my many desperate attempts to locate our dear missing Fatso. We immediately arranged a meeting to determine if the bird was really "our" Fatso. It certainly was! After giving the kind man visitation rights, we then happily and gratefully took Fatso home where he lived happily ever after! Just another example of every day miracles and the angels who live among us!

Jan LifteeHONOLULU, HI

I'll take it!

I was at a friend's when he took a phone call from a friend of his. I could tell by his side of the conversation that they were talking about an abandoned cat that neither of them could keep. Before my brain kicked in, my mouth said "I'll take it." I already had a large furry family, cats and dogs, all of which I had met before making a lifetime commitment. On my way home, I picked up a beautiful long-hair tuxedo female cat that looked into my soul, took possession of my heart, and proceeded, gently and quietly, to take over our household. Whispurr was my companion and my muse for nine years. She made it her responsibility to check out everything: each new box, any open drawer or cabinet, the sinks, my open suitcase (so much for packing to take a trip!) and the purses of visitors, among other things. She recently had what was diagnosed as either a brain infection or a stroke which left her barely able to find the food bowl, and walking was almost impossible. The veterinarian who checked her out also found mammary tumors. Her age and my desire to prevent any more pain and discomfort with treatment that may not even be effective meant that I had to let her go. I love and miss her every day but am forever grateful for my uncharacteristic outburst, "I'll take it."

Nancy McPhersonSILVER SPRINGS, NV

Our rescue from Hurricane Nate

Buddy was rescued after Hurricane Nate from Costa Rica. He ended up at our local humaine society Daytona Beach. This poor thing was burned on one side by acid, ears were cut really short has no front teeth was just abused and under weight. We lost our Daisy to cancer right after Thanksgiving and by mid Dec we were ready to get a new dog to add to our clan. We came across Buster now Buddy and after everything this dog has been through he is the most loving Pit bull. He had to be treated for heart worms but that's ok we still wanted him. After all this poor dog went through he needed a loving home that he could be happy and play with his new sisters and brothers. After a year he is finally understanding us as he did not know English since he was from Costa Rica. We would not replace him for the world and yes he is a Pit and a loving one at that even after all the abuse he went through. The picture is from when we first met him. If you could see him now you wouldn't believe its the same dog.
Mare B

Marie BohannanEDGEWATER, FL

Draft Horse & Donkey Resue

I have been rescuing Draft Horses and Donkeys for years and St. Bernards......The Draft Horse Rescue is called Gentle Giants and the Donkey rescue is called Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue. these are top notch rescue programs and I encourage everyone to look at their website. I also rescue St. Bernards and have 2-3 in the house at all times. And the good news is mine all live to be 14 - 15 years old.....it's the chocolate doughnuts for breakfast that gives them the long life span.
Janet of GA.

James Smiley-MiearsBUFORD, GA

My dear dogs

I have 5 dogs, 3 rescued dogs from the streets for 2 of them.
One "Mantequilla" was put in the street by hher first owner. She enjoy a lot her bed, now she has some issues to walk but we took great care of her.
Her nickname is "Mantecama" (joke as "cama" is the spanish word for bed.
She is very sweet and try to speak if I can say.
I have bough a trolley to be able to walk her.
The other one, Hannan is a mixted chowchow. She also was in the street. We rescued her, the veterinarian said that she will died as she was very ill. At least I though that she will died in a nice environnment, with love and care.
She survived and is a very very sweet girl.
The third, "Capy" (for "capitaine) was sold by his first owner. He was tied all the day along with an electric wire, had no education, was very shy.
He his now the funnest and smart dog of the 5 of my band (the 2 others I came with them from France and "pure" breed).
They are my gifts in the life, as my 3 others cats : one also from the streets and 2 others who were gift of my veterinarian as he said that I take great care of my animals.
I have also birds, the first came because people didn't wanted them anymore...
And in my garden a lot of hummingbirds and others specics.
A little paradis. I live in Dominican Republic and came to live here like a pensioner, from France.

Let us keep you informed about The Animal Rescue Site and we'll give you
FREE Gift (you get to choose!).* We also have a first-time subscriber special offer — we'll vaccinate a shelter animal if you are new to our family of websites.** Vaccinated animals have a better chance of finding their forever home.

*Free gift offer while supplies last. We may choose to substitute an item if this one becomes unavailable. Offer does not include cost of shipping. Limit one per person. Please allow 2-4 weeks for arrival.

**First-time subscriber special offer is given for valid email addresses new to GreaterGood, which includes GreaterGood.com, The Hunger Site, The Breast Cancer Site, The Animal Rescue Site, The Veterans Site, The Autism Site, The Diabetes Site, The Literacy Site, The Rainforest Site, The Alzheimer's Site and all GreaterGood stores.